Richard Schreiber documents NYC Autism Community Group's first annual Autism Tech, Innovation and Careers Expo at Art and Design High School in Manhattan. Parents, program leaders, and practitioners share how the event connected families with resources and job opportunities for autistic adults.
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I'm here today to support the community and most importantly, to support the parents of the children that are on the spectrum. And because they're the environment in which their kids grow, that's the most important thing for a sustainable future for them and their kids. I came here today because my son has autism as well as epilepsy, and I wanted to get more information about resources and opportunities for him. And I feel like this expo did a good job.
So my name is Joel. I'm the executive director of Gerst Drivers Education. It's a program specifically designed to work with people with developmental disabilities and teach them how to drive. It promotes independence, socialization, and it's just a great thing. What's independence? Be able to get up and go where you want, when you want.
It's been important to be here for our daughter Larisa, who is on the autism spectrum. And we are just trying to help her, you know, find her path in life. I think that what I wish that people knew is that my daughter doesn't have a disability. She is just different, not less than, just different. And she wants to be included and she wants to be loved.
It's just been an incredible journey that we've been on, but a heart wrenching one at times. So we want to share what we've been through through our expo to other parents, so maybe they don't have to go through the same path.
I learned that there are a lot of like minded people out there that are ready and willing to help out the autism community, but not just the autism community. Anybody with any type of mental diagnosis or disability, everybody needs help. And when you find that that really resonates with you, it can make a world of difference.
It's my private practice, Play to learn. And we are all about integrating child development and working with the brain in areas of play and in nutrition.
Rich Reimer here from the New York City Autism Community Group and at our amazingly successful first annual Autism Tech, Innovation and Careers Expo, right here at Art and Design High School in midtown Manhattan, you see behind me a lot of activity with our exhibitors. We had wonderful speakers today. We're so grateful to everyone who helped put this together. Art and Design High School, my team, all of our volunteers, just a great day and we will be back. We'll be back. It will be bigger and better next year. So Richard Schreiber saying thank you for all of you out there who either were online watching this or that were actually here.
